With a press release full of superlatives, Grand Design RV has announced its entry into the motorized RV market. Dubbed “Lineage,” GD’s new Class C units are slated to roll out to dealers in July. What will the first Grand Design motorhome be like? There’s the mystery, and Grand Design’s own media folks aren’t helping much. Here’s what we know so far, and how potential customers have responded.
Skepticism when Winnie bought Grand Design
Many reacted skeptically when, in 2016, Winnebago bought up then-independent Grand Design RV. The game plan was that Winnie would technically “own” GD, but that the latter would still be a somewhat independent manufacturer. Grand Design would keep its staff and crews, and continue to head up design and production of its towable lines. Grand Design had established a reputation for quality build and solid customer service. The question was, with Winnie as parent, would GD continue to maintain that excellence?
We’ll have to let the RVing community answer those questions. As a whole, the RV industry has taken on a patina of tarnish after the COVID era. A reputation of “production numbers before quality” seems to be how many RVers view manufacturers, and GD hasn’t been untouched. Still, the believers in Grand Design quality are many.
Collective breath-hold
So, last year, when Grand Design announced it would build its own line of motorized units, many of the GD faithful rejoiced. “It’s what we’ve been waiting for,” enthused some on social media. So this week, when Grand Design pumped out its “big announcement” about the Lineage lineup, the faithful sucked in their collective breath, and turned their internet dials to the big GD release video.
For many, it was, to put it charitably, a letdown.
A 21-second video teaser tells us, what? Perhaps the most useful piece of information is a dimly lit shot of a front-end grill showing the Mercedes emblem. The news release tells us the first Grand Design motorhome will be a Class C unit. Aside from that, what do we know? Zero, zip, zilch, nada.
The press release is no more informative than the video. “We are looking forward to bringing the quality, innovation and service we are known for in the towable market over to a brand-new product and segment,” says Don Clark, president and CEO of Grand Design RV. “Lineage Class C will be our first foray into motorized but there will be much more to follow.”
Viewers react to Grand Design motorhome “video release”
Reaction to the video from those who’d be waiting with much anticipation was quick—and pointed.
- “So we now know that it has a seatbelt and start button. That certainly makes me interested!”
- “I am dumber for having watched that.”
- “To quote a famous philosopher: ‘Good Grief!’ I certainly hope that the manufacturing quality control is a tad better than the set of doofus’s putting out this video have demonstrated.”
- “My Son just graduated from UGA with a Marketing degree. Looks like you all could use some new talent. Shall I have him send in a resume?”
Watch the video, and you can draw your own conclusions as to just what the new Grand Design Lineage motorhomes will be—or not be.
“Select dealers” should have seen prototype
Will Lineage make the mark of appearing on dealer lots in just three months? That remains to be seen. For Grand Design to pump out that date in a much-spread press release would seem to indicate they have a lot of confidence. On the other hand, last October, Winnebago’s CEO Mike Happe announced, “The Grand Design team is working diligently to bring this exciting launch to life, and we anticipate showcasing prototype models to select dealers in early calendar 2024 with shipments beginning late in our fiscal 2024 year.” If any of those “select dealers” have seen a Grand Design motorhome prototype, they haven’t told us.
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We own a 2020 GD Solitude (built in 2019, before covid) and I’ve nothing but good things to say about our unit. We bought GD based on reviews and comments regarding quality and customer service. Again, no problems with our unit but I’ve seen many newer GD units and some older units and quality isn’t what it used to be. Customer Service? We only had two experiences – the first one I would rate excellent and the second poor. So it’s 50/50 right now. I don’t believe quality or customer service is what it was before they sold out to WB. They may have kept their own identity but at the end of the day WB expects a profit so GD will do what they must and sacrifice where they must to attain that pro
Anyway, I’m not interested in the new motorized line. Additionally if I was in the market for a new unit GD would not make the top 2 of my list.
Wise decision.
I wonder how much of the GD motorhome will be similar to a Winnebago motorhome, and how much of the bad PR about frame flex / frame failure will affect sales.
The article, video, all of it…….waste of time. Might as well be another pop up ad, like there aren’t enough now.
Definitely more of a sputter than a release.
I suspect it will be a Winnie C rehash, but who knows?
Winnebago has been working for YEARS to try to bring the Journey Class A back. Release dates continually missed. I talked to a Winnie rep at a show in January and was told they had all kinds of issues…one was slides leaking around the opening as they were developing flush exterior wall slides. EGADS! Newmar has had those for decades without leaks! Do they even talk?! We finally did see a prototype “luxury” Journey in March…not much to crow about nor does it meet “luxury” standards.
Sadly, everything “Winnie” has gone downhill, IMO.
From what I have seen Grand Design units aren’t necessarily bad products, they just aren’t. Well. Grand. Nothing about the quality or thinking that goes into their rigs really is anything but average.
They do do an exceptional job with floor plans, though, so that may be their ace in the hole. We shall see if the new design truly is grand, or just bland.
I have one and I agree with what you have said here. There is real potential but they just come up short like every other manufacturer. I keep finding things that were missed or simply poorly done during construction. One example the entire internal seal on the slide out was not attached to the wall. 10 – 12 staples later and it is fine but it is obvious they have the same quality control problems as everyone else. We love the floor plan though,
After a real nightmare full of quality control problems on a new 2017 Grand Design Reflection…I could not rid myself of this mistake quick enough. While many have had few problems …some of us had more than our share of GD foul ups. Never again.
Leisure Travel + Pleasure Way. The Only Class C/B that I would trust. Grand Design has a Giant Credibility Problem. Skip the Thor Tiffin, Winnebago Grand Design. Do a deep dive on these companies before you move forward.
I will stick to Outdoors RV…tried the rest…now do one of the best.
How much will the Mercedes badge add to the cost? A friend has a van. It costs a small fortune just for a simple oil change. I’ll stick with the Ford Thank You
Wow! Is this a negative article! (Not used to seeing that in this newsletter). So the teaser video is the basis of negativity? Remember when the new cars came out in Aug-Sept each year – they even shipped them under wraps until the day they were to be seen. GD is just building some anticipation. Lighten up a little and anticipate….
The author of the article is right. They are having so many issues with frame failures on their 5th wheel lines which they should address.
I agree with DW/ND. Just because there is an issue somewhere doesn’t mean a company can’t change and evolve. And it’s just a teaser.
Thank you, Russ and Tina! 🙂 Seems silly for Grand Design to add a drivable line when their towables are having so many problems. Seems Winnebago would want to fix Grand Design, or for Grand Design to fix itself, before making a foray into drivables, an area about which they know little to nothing. Thanks again, Russ and Tina, and safe travels! 🙂
There is no fixing any manufacturer that has problems. It simply doesn’t happen.
I attended a GDRV National rally … well, twice, but the first, in 2020? 2021? that I went to, CEO Don Clark said they are always asked, and at the time, had no intention of any forays into motorized. Times change. GDRV fans can be quite … loyal, and for those that want to upgrade to a drivable, many feel that the GD family is where they want to stay. It very much has a family mentality, like Harley-Davidson.
Nice choice of comments Russ, you made me smile.
“…turns to skepticism” because didn’t get all the information that you wanted or were expected? How childish. Maybe the manufacturer and their marketing department have a marketing plan that they feel is best for their company- what a concept. Were you expecting them to contact you for guidance on how much and how little info to divulge and what timing to release it.
The first email I got went to a deleted video. So yeah they botched this really well.
It will likely be the Navion/View…
I am totally amazed, another black and white RV. Surely there’s A little gray somewhere?